Volunteer Ruthie S. Refurbishes Bridging Furniture for Senior Capstone Project

Ruthie S., a creative and community-minded high school student at Upper Mississippi Academy, has dedicated her time and talents as a weekly Wednesday shopping volunteer at Bridging for the past seven months. Finding joy in “making real connections with people as they furnish their homes,” Ruthie knew she wanted to design her senior capstone project in a way that would support Bridging’s mission.

“I’ve always loved design. With my capstone project, I wanted to refurbish a piece of furniture that was very loved and refinish it, so someone coming to Bridging can really enjoy it and appreciate the quality.”

To ensure a lasting impact, Ruthie decided to make a video of her refurbishing project and share it with the Bridging community. She selected an older dresser from the warehouse and recorded her step-by-step progress of stripping the paint and refinishing the piece from beginning to end.

Ruthie is pleased with final product, and she is excited about where the dresser will end up. She hopes that someone who visits Bridging will love it in their new home. She also hopes that her senior capstone project video will inspire Bridging donors.

“I want to encourage donors to donate furniture that is high quality and has more life in it. Some people may also decide to refurbish a piece of furniture! Quality donations are appreciated by people who find furnishings for their homes at Bridging.”

Ruthie plans to attend college next year where she plans to major in architecture and minor in interior design. You can see her video below!